RULING IN LIFE 掌管生活
For the word of God is living and powerful. — HEBREWS 4:12
因为神的道是活泼的，是有功效的。——希伯来书 4:12
If we were to read the Word of God exactly as it is, most of us would be dramatically different from what we are.
如果我们准确理解上帝的话语，我们大多数人都会变得与现在截然不同。
Sometimes, our greatest challenge is to simply believe His Word over our existing conditions. If your state of affairs is not favorable at the moment, you know that it can be changed — that your circumstances are not final. The only thing that is absolutely never changing is the Word of God. Jesus Christ stated years ago, ""Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will remain forever (Luke 21:33 ). Look upward and observe the sun that has given light and warmth to our planet as long as man has been here. It will pass away before the Word of God proves untrue. The Word of God stands forever!
Our Almighty Father declares, "I am ready to perform My word" (Jeremiah 1:12). Notice that He is ready. When will He perform it? The simple answer is, when someone believes Him. Jesus affirms that "'all things are possible to him who believes" (Mark 9:23). So let's relentlessly believe!
有时，我们最大的挑战就是相信他的话语，而不管我们现有的状况。如果你目前的状况并不理想，你知道它是可以改变的——你的处境还没有确定。唯一绝对不会改变的是上帝的话语。耶稣基督多年前说过：“天地要废去，我的话却要永远长存”（路加福音 21:33）。抬头看看太阳，自从人类出现以来，它就为我们的星球提供了光明和温暖。在上帝的话语被证明是假之前，它就会消失。上帝的话语永远长存！
我们全能的父宣称：“我已准备好履行我的诺言”（耶利米书 1:12）。注意他已经准备好了。他什么时候会履行呢？答案很简单，当有人相信他的时候。耶稣肯定“在信的人，凡事都能”（马可福音 9:23）。所以让我们坚持不懈地相信吧！
WE ARE TO RULE IN THIS LIFE
我们要统治今生
In the next four chapters, we're going to explore and develop an extremely important truth-a truth that's vital to our quest to finish well as relentless believers. I'll alert you that it may appear that we're veering a bit off subject, but stay with me. I assure you that it all comes together to help us complete our journey.
在接下来的四章中，我们将探索和发展一个极其重要的真理——这个真理对于我们作为坚定的信徒完成任务至关重要。我要提醒你，我们可能看起来有点偏离主题，但请继续听我说。我向你保证，这一切都会帮助我们完成我们的旅程。
With this in mind, let's examine one of the most potent scriptures in the New Testament:
All who receive God's abundant grace and are freely put right with him will rule in life through Christ. ( Romans 5:17 )
考虑到这一点，让我们来研究一下新约中最有力的经文之一：
凡接受上帝丰盛恩典并自由地与他和好的人，都将通过基督在生活中掌权。（罗马书 5:17）
Look carefully at the phrase rule in life. The New International Version translates it "reign in life"; Weymouth rephrases it "reign as kings in life." You and I, as God's children, are to rule as kings or queens! These words are not merely man's words, for we know that "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God" (2 Timothy 3:16). Therefore, God is literally stating that we will rule in life through the power of His Son. Notice He doesn't say, ""You will rule in heaven one day" or "You will rule in the next life." No, He clearly decrees that we are to rule in this life as kings or queens through Christ.
One of my dictionary's primary definitions of a king or queen is "one that is supreme or preeminent in a particular sphere. The word reign is defined as "dominance or widespread influence." To reign as a king or queen is to have supreme dominance and influence over a particular sphere. In what sphere are we to be unsurpassed or paramount? The sphere of life.
In other words, life on this earth is not to surpass us; we are to govern it. This is the Word of God, His promise to you! I encourage you to firmly settle this in your heart.
仔细看看“人生的统治”这个短语。新国际版将其翻译为“人生的统治”；韦茅斯将其改写为“人生的君王”。你和我，作为上帝的孩子，要像国王或王后一样统治！这些话不仅仅是人的话语，因为我们知道“圣经都是神所默示的”（提摩太后书3:16）。因此，上帝实际上是在说，我们将通过他儿子的力量来统治人生。请注意，他并没有说“有一天你会在天堂统治”或“你将在来世统治”。不，他清楚地规定我们要通过基督在今生作为国王或王后统治。
我的字典对国王或王后的主要定义之一是“在特定领域至高无上或卓越的人”。统治一词的定义是“统治或广泛的影响”。 作为国王或王后统治意味着在特定领域拥有至高无上的统治权和影响力。在哪个领域我们是无与伦比或至高无上的？生命领域。
换句话说，地球上的生命不会超越我们；我们要统治它。这是上帝的话语，是他对你的承诺！我鼓励你把这一点牢牢地记在心里。
DEFAULT STATEMENT
违约声明
Consider the default statement we've all heard uttered for years. When situations become diffcult, unfavorable, damaging and even life-threatening well-meaning people often default to the assurance that "God is in control."
想想我们多年来听到的默认说法。当情况变得困难、不利、有破坏性甚至危及生命时，善意的人们通常会默认“上帝掌控一切”。
This statement implies that there's no reason to fight opposition because God, out of His loving and good nature, will somehow turn all adversity around for ultimate good since He is the One controlling everything.
这句话的含义是，没有理由去对抗反对派，因为上帝出于他的慈爱和善良的天性，会以某种方式将所有逆境转化为最终的利益，因为他是掌控一切的那一位。
The truth is, God put us in control. Now before you throw this book down, please hear me out.
事实是，上帝掌控着我们。在你扔下这本书之前，请先听我说完。
He put us in control.
他让我们掌控一切。
In the Psalms, we read, "The heavens are the Lord's heavens, but the earth has He given to the children of men" (Psalm 115:16 ). The message states it this way: "The heaven of heavens is for God, but he put us in charge of the earth."
在诗篇中，我们读到：“天是耶和华的天，地他给了世人。”（诗篇 115:16）这则信息是这样说的：“天上的天是属于上帝的，但他把地托付给我们。”
Who is in charge of the earth? We are!
谁主宰地球？我们！
Almighty God is the Sovereign Creator, and He made a sovereign choice to give man rulership over the earth and how affairs are run on it. If God had retained control of the earth as many believe, then when Adam began lifting the 'forbidden fruit' toward his mouth, God would have intervened and slapped it from his hand. "What's up with you, Adam?" God would have exclaimed. "Don't you realize the consequences of what you're about to do? Don't you realize all the pain, suffering, sickness, disease, famine, hunger, poverty, murder, theft, and more that will come on you and your descendants? Not to mention the earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, pestilence, drought, and danger from wild animals? Do you not understand that all of nature will go into a corruptive state? And, most importantly, that I will have to send My only Son to suffer a terrible death in order to redeem mankind back to Me?"
全能的上帝是至高无上的造物主，他做出了至高无上的选择，让人类统治地球并决定地球上的事务。如果上帝像许多人认为的那样保留了对地球的控制权，那么当亚当开始把“禁果”举到嘴边时，上帝就会干预并把它从他手中拍掉。“你怎么了，亚当？”上帝会惊呼道。 “难道你没有意识到你将要做的事情的后果吗？难道你没有意识到你和你的后代将遭受的所有痛苦、折磨、疾病、饥荒、饥饿、贫穷、谋杀、偷盗等等吗？更不用说地震、龙卷风、飓风、瘟疫、干旱和野生动物的危险了？你不明白所有的自然都会进入腐败状态吗？而且，最重要的是，我必须派我的独生子遭受可怕的死亡，才能将人类赎回给我？”
But God didn't hold Adam back, because He had bequeathed the earth to mankind. Our loving Creator God is not like so many humans who give authority and then revoke it if they don't like the way it's being handled. When God gives something, it's a permanent gift. We have His Word on it: "For God's gifts and his call can never be withdrawn" (Romans 11:29).
但上帝没有阻止亚当，因为他把地球留给了人类。我们慈爱的造物主上帝不像许多人类，他们赋予权力，然后如果他们不喜欢权力被处理的方式就撤销权力。当上帝给予某样东西时，那是一份永久的礼物。我们有他的话：“因为神的恩赐和呼召不能撤回。”（罗马书 11:29）
Someone may counter, "But the Bible states that "The earth is the Lord's, and all its fullness"" (Psalm 24:1). In reply, let me relate something that has transpired with my family over the past few years.
有人可能会反驳说：“但圣经说‘地和其中所充满的，世界和其中所充满的，都属耶和华’”（诗篇 24:1）。作为回答，让我讲述一下过去几年发生在我家的一些事情。
Awhile back Lisa's mother, Shirley, who is in her seventies, was living alone in a Florida apartment with no kin nearby, Lisa and I really wanted to have her close to our family, and one day Lisa noticed some great townhomes for sale not more than five minutes from our house. They were perfect! So we approached Shirley with an offer to purchase one of the townhomes for her to live in, inviting her to join our team at Messenger International. With joy, Mom accepted. The townhome was purchased, and in order for Mom to feel a sense of independence, we decided to charge her a nominal rent each month. It has been a couple of years since she moved in, and she is flourishing in every area of life. In all that time as owner, I've not once told her how she is to decorate her home or arrange her furniture. I haven't told her how to run her household; what she is to cook for breakfast, lunch, or dinner; or what appliances to buy. Lisa's mom is in charge of the day-to-day operations. I own that townhouse — I have the title deed — but I have leased it to her, and she is to run the affairs of that property as she desires. She can ask for my help anytime, but I'm not going to interfere unless she does.
不久前，丽莎的母亲雪莉已经七十多岁了，独自住在佛罗里达的一间公寓里，附近没有亲戚，丽莎和我真的很想让她住在我们家附近，有一天，丽莎注意到离我们家不到五分钟路程的地方有一些很棒的联排别墅在出售。它们太完美了！于是我们找到雪莉，提出购买其中一套联排别墅给她居住，并邀请她加入我们 Messenger International 的团队。妈妈高兴地接受了。联排别墅买下来了，为了让妈妈感受到独立，我们决定每个月向她收取象征性的租金。她搬进来已经几年了，生活的各个方面都蒸蒸日上。作为房主，在这段时间里，我从来没有告诉过她该如何装饰她的房子或布置她的家具。我没有告诉她如何经营她的家庭；她要做什么早餐、午餐或晚餐；或者要买什么电器。 Lisa 的妈妈负责日常运营。那栋联排别墅是我拥有的——我有产权证——但我把它租给了她，她可以按照自己的意愿管理那处房产的事务。她可以随时寻求我的帮助，但除非她主动要求，否则我不会干涉。
In the same way, the earth is the Lord's. He is the owner, but He has 'leased' it to mankind. Listen to what He said when He created us and gave us the "townhome" of earth:
God created human beings, making them to be like himself. He created them male and female, blessed them, and said, ""Have many children, so that your descendants will live all over the earth and bring it under their control. I am putting you in charge." (Genesis 1:27-28)
同样，地球是属于主的。他是主人，但他已将其“租给”人类。听听他在创造我们并赐予我们地球“家园”时说了什么：
上帝创造了人类，使他们像他一样。他创造了男人和女人，祝福他们，并说：“要生养众多，使你的子孙遍布全地，治理全地。我必将一切托付给你。”（创世记 1:27-28).
God put us in charge of His big townhome, You and I, not God, are in control of how life is run on this planet.
上帝让我们掌管他的大厦，你和我，而不是上帝，掌控着这个星球上的生命如何运转。
A NEW LANDLORD
新房东
The huge problem arose in the Garden of Eden when the devil entered the serpent's body and convinced Adam and Eve to disobey God's Word and embrace his lie. Once mankind did this, we gave ourselves over to a new landlord whose name is Satan. Not only did we give ourselves, but we also gave all that was under our domain. All of mankind's descendants, as well as nature itself, now was under the sway of the wicked one.
当魔鬼进入蛇的身体并说服亚当和夏娃违背上帝的旨意并接受他的谎言时，伊甸园就出现了巨大的问题。一旦人类这样做了，我们就把自己交给了一个新的地主，他的名字是撒旦。我们不仅献出了自己，还献出了我们统治下的一切。现在，人类的所有后代以及大自然本身都处于邪恶者的控制之下。
This quantum shift to the new landlord explains the encounter that came later between Satan and Jesus. The devil took Jesus up to a high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world. Satan offered, "To You I will give all this power and authority and their glory (all their magnificence, excellence, preeminence, dignity, and grace), for it has been turned over to me, and I give it to whomever I will" (Luke 4:6).
这种向新地主的质变解释了后来撒旦和耶稣之间的遭遇。魔鬼把耶稣带到一座高山上，向他展示了世界上所有的王国。撒旦说：“这一切权柄、荣耀（所有的辉煌、卓越、卓越、尊严和优雅）都要给你，因为这已经交给我了，我可以把它给任何我想要给的人”（路加福音 4:6）。
When were all the kingdoms of the world "turned over" to the devil? It happened in the Garden of Eden thousands of years earlier when Adam gave up the right to rule the earth God had entrusted to him. What God had given to man was now in the hands of His archenemy. This is why the Scriptures tell us, "We know [positively] that we are of God, and the whole world [around us] is under the power of the evil one" (1 John 5:19).
世界上所有的王国是什么时候“被交给”魔鬼的？数千年前，当亚当放弃了上帝赋予他的统治地球的权利时，这发生在伊甸园。上帝赐予人类的一切现在都掌握在他的宿敌手中。这就是为什么圣经告诉我们，“我们知道我们是属神的，全世界都卧在那恶者手下”（约翰一书 5:19）。
THE TAKE-BACK PLAN
回收计划
God desired to get back into the hands of mankind what Adam had relinquished. However, He couldn't come in the form of deity and just snatch it back, because God doesn't retract the authority He gives and Adam had officially relinquished it. A man lost it, sơ Man would have to restore it. This is why Jesus had to come as the "Son of Man." He was born of a woman, making Him 100 percent man. He was fathered by the Holy Spirit, making Him 100 percent God (and thus free from the curse of sin). However, we are clearly told that "When the time came, he [Jesus] set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human!" (Philippians 2:7). Even though He is God, He set aside His deity and walked the earth as a man, Jesus lived perfectly obedient to the Father. Because of His innocence and willful embrace of the death on the cross, He was able to purchase back with His own blood what Adam had lost. Scripture says He "disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it" (Colossians 2:15). Now, He alone possesses the authority Adam relinquished. This is why He clearly states, "All authority [all power of rule] has been given to Me in heaven and on earth" (Matthew 28:18).
上帝希望将亚当放弃的权柄重新交到人类手中。然而，他不能以神的形式降临并把它夺回来，因为上帝不会收回他赋予的权柄，而亚当已经正式放弃了它。一个人失去了它，所以人类必须恢复它。这就是为什么耶稣必须以“人子”的身份降临。他由女人所生，这使他成为 100% 的人。他的父亲是圣灵，这使他成为 100% 的神（因此摆脱了罪的诅咒）。然而，我们清楚地知道“到了时候，他就放弃了神的特权，取了奴仆的身分，成为人！”（腓立比书 2:7）。尽管他是神，但他放弃了神性，以人的身份行走在地球上，耶稣完全顺服天父。 由于他的无辜和甘愿接受十字架上的死亡，他能够用自己的血赎回亚当所失去的一切。圣经说他“将一切执政的、掌权的掳来，明显给众人看，就仗着夸胜”（歌罗西书2:15）。现在，只有他拥有亚当放弃的权柄。这就是为什么他清楚地说：“天上地下所有的权柄都赐给我了”（马太福音28:18）。
One day, He will return and restore all of nature as it was before the fall of Adam in the Garden of Eden. As the apostle Paul wrote,
For the creation (nature) was subjected to frailty (to futility, condemned to frustration), not because of some intentional fault on its part, but ....will be set free from its bondage to decay and corruption [and gain an entrancel] into the glorious freedom of God's children.(Romans 8:20-21)
有一天，他会回来，将整个自然恢复到亚当在伊甸园堕落之前的样子。正如使徒保罗所写的，
因为创造物（自然）屈服于脆弱（徒劳，注定受挫），不是因为它的某些故意过错，而是……将从腐朽和腐败的束缚中解脱出来[并获得]进入上帝子女的荣耀自由。（罗马书8:20-21）
Nature is still subject to frailty: our physical bodies still grow old and die, the physical world is still corrupt and decays, wild beasts still hunt and eat weaker animals, snakes still possess vile venom, disease still runs rampant, and hurricanes and tornadoes still destroy. However, there is One who has authority over it all and can turn it around, and that One is Christ.
大自然仍然脆弱：我们的肉体仍然会衰老和死亡，物质世界仍然会腐烂和衰败，野兽仍然会捕食体弱的动物，蛇仍然具有恶毒的毒液，疾病仍然肆虐，飓风和龙卷风仍然会造成破坏。然而，有一位掌管这一切并能扭转这一切的人，那就是基督。
WHO IS CHRIST?
谁是基督？
So the question now becomes, Who is Christ? This is where an unrenewed mind once again steals from the children of God. When many people think of Christ, they think of only Jesus Christ, almost as if Christ is His last name. These dear people don't think of anyone else other than our Great King who died on the cross and was resurrected. Yes, the name Christ does refer to our Lord and Savior, but let's see what God's Word says.
所以现在的问题变成了，基督是谁？这就是未更新的思想再次从上帝的孩子那里窃取的东西。当许多人想到基督时，他们只想到耶稣基督，就好像基督是他的姓氏一样。这些亲爱的人除了我们死在十字架上并复活的伟大国王之外，不会想到任何其他人。是的，基督这个名字确实指的是我们的主和救世主，但让我们看看上帝的话语是怎么说的。
Paul tells us, "Now all of you together are Christ's body, and each one of you is a separate and necessary part of it" (1 Corinthians 12:27). We believers, together, are Christ's body. Each of us is a vital "body part." Jesus is the head, we are the body; it's that simple!
保罗告诉我们，“你们就是基督的身子，并且各自作肢体，作肢体”（哥林多前书 12:27）。我们信徒，就是基督的身体。我们每个人都是至关重要的“身体部位”。耶稣是头，我们是身体；就这么简单！
Individually, you have a head on top of your shoulders, but you also possess two hands, two feet, two knees, two arms, a chest, a stomach, a liver, two kidneys, and so on. When you think of yourself, do you think of your head as being separate from or different from your body? Would you call your head by one proper name and your body by a different proper name? Of course not. You are one being -- one person. If you saw my head, you would refer to it as John Bevere. If my head was momentarily concealed, and you saw only my body, you would still refer to it as John Bevere. My head and body are one.
就个人而言，你有一个头和你的肩膀，但你还有两只手、两只脚、两个膝盖、两只胳膊、一个胸部、一个胃、一个肝脏、两个肾脏等等。当你想到自己时，你是否认为你的头与你的身体是分开的或者不同的？你会用一个专有名称来称呼你的头，而用另一个专有名称来称呼你的身体吗？当然不会。你是同一个存在——同一个个体。如果你看到我的头，你会称它为约翰·比弗。如果我的头暂时隐藏起来，你只看到我的身体，你仍然会称它为约翰·比弗。我的头和身体是一体的。
In the same way, Christ's head and His body are one. Jesus is the head, and we are different parts of His body, so we are one in Christ. So when you read Christ in the New Testament, you need to see not just the One who died on the cross but also yourself. This is why Scripture states, "For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers," "Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life."
同样，基督的头和他的身体是合一的。耶稣是头，我们是他身体的不同部分，所以我们在基督里是合一的。所以当你阅读新约中的基督时，你不仅需要看到死在十字架上的那一位，还需要看到你自己。这就是为什么圣经说：“因为那使人成圣的和那些得以成圣的人，都是出于一源头。所以，他称他们为弟兄也不以为耻”，“岂不知我们这受洗归入基督耶稣的人，是受洗归入他的死吗？所以我们藉着洗礼归入死，和他一同埋葬，原是叫我们一举一动有新生的样式，像基督藉着父的荣耀从死里复活一样。”
Note that this passage isn't referring to the act of water baptism, but to our "immersion" into Christ's body by the Spirit of God when we were born again (see 1 Corinthians 12:13). We are Christ's body; therefore, the moment we were immersed into Him, our history changed. We died with Him, were buried with Him, were raised with Him, and, as brand-new beings, we live as He does! Again, "'As He is, so are we in this world." We are in Christ! We are Christ! We are His body! We are one with Him!
请注意，这段经文不是指水洗礼的行为，而是指我们重生时被神的灵“浸入”基督的身体（见哥林多前书 12:13）。我们是基督的身体；因此，在我们浸入他的那一刻，我们的历史就改变了。我们与他同死，与他同埋葬，与他同复活，作为全新的生命，我们像他一样生活！再说一次，“他如何，我们在这世上也如何。”我们在基督里！我们是基督！我们是他的身体！我们与他是一体！
According to Ephesians 1:20, because we are part of Christ we are now seated in a ruling place. In fact, it's the highest place of authority in the universe, other than that of God the Father. Jesus said, "All authority [all power of rule] has been given to Me in heaven and on earth" (Matthew 28:18). Paul continues,
Far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named [above every title that can be conferred], not only in this age and in this world, but also in the age and the world which are to come. (Ephesians 1:21)
根据以弗所书 1:20，因为我们是基督的一部分，所以我们现在坐在统治的位置上。事实上，这是宇宙中除了父神之外权威最高的位置。耶稣说：“天上地下所有的权柄 [统治的力量] 都赐给我了”（马太福音 28:18）。保罗继续说，
远超过一切执政的、掌权的、有能的、主治的和一切有名的 [超过一切可以授予的头衔]，不但是今世和今世的，也包括来世和来世的。（以弗所书 1:21）
Do you believe the Lord Jesus is seated far above all rule, authority, and power in this world and in the universe? As a Christian, of course you do. But I ask again: Do you believe this in regard to yourself? You may not see yourself in this light. Chances are even better you don't believe this reality. If so, you've again separated yourself from Christ in your thinking or in what you believe. Are you part of a different body? No, you are part of Christ! We all are in Christ. We are Christ. We are His body!
你是否相信主耶稣远远高于这个世界和宇宙中一切统治、权威和权力？作为一名基督徒，你当然相信。但我再问一遍：你是否相信这一点？你可能不会这样看待自己。更有可能你不相信这个现实。如果是这样，那么你在思想或信仰上再次将自己与基督分离。你是不同身体的一部分吗？不，你是基督的一部分！我们都在基督里。我们是基督。我们是他的身体！
Because we are part of Christ we are now seated in a ruling place.
因为我们是基督的一部分，所以我们现在拥有统治权。
Listen carefully as Paul confirms this:
And God has put all things under His feet and has appointed Him the universal and supreme Head of the church [a headship exercised throughout the church], which is His body, the fullness of Him Who fills all in all. (Ephesians 1:22-23)
请仔细听保罗是如何证实这一点的：
神将万有服在他的脚下，立他为教会的至高元首。教会是他的身体，是那充满万有者所充满的。（以弗所书 1:22-23）
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